An FDNY Ladder company going on a run crashed into an MTA bus in Brooklyn injuring several people, including 2 Firefighters late this morning. 6 firefighters from Ladder 103 were transported to the hospital, 2 Firefighters, the Officer and the FF driving are reported to have serious but non-life threatening injuries.
At least one of the FF's was temporarily pinned in the apparatus. Additionally, 19 people on the bus were shaken up and were being treated and transported. The front of the bus suffered extensive front-end damage and the windows were blown out. We'll post more details and pics on the home page.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FF MAYDAY:
2 SW New Hampshire Firefighters suffered minor injuries while operating at a 5 alarm fire in a dwelling in Marlborough this morning. The 2 Firefighters were removed and transported after partially falling through a floor. The fire was reported to be in the cellar and extended up to the first floor...the 2 FF's crawled in through a sliding glass door, and got a few feet to search when the floor gave way beneath them. One FF suffered a burn to his wrist and the other a knee injury.

A TOUGH RUN IN MARYLAND: KIDS, FIREFIGHTERS and CAR SEATS:
Last night, Prince Georges County (MD) Firefighters and Medics ran a tough call on I-95 north bound near College Park. Maryland State Police are continuing their investigation into how a 5 year old became entangled in a seat belt strap while his mother was driving on I-95. The injured child was not breathing but is in critical condition at Children's Hospital.

Just before 1800 hours, PG Fire/EMS dispatchers sent companies along with MSP to a call from a hysterical woman who said her child had a seat belt wrapped around his neck and she needed help. 1st arriving was a trooper who saw the kid in the left rear seat with the seat belt wrapped around his neck....the trooper cut the seat belt loose from the vehicle and removed it from the child's neck. The child was not breathing and the trooper immediately started rescue breathing. A member of PG's Laurel VFD stopped and assisted the trooper with CPR until responding companies arrived.

It is unknown exactly how the child became entangled in the seat belt. It is not clear if the victim was secured by the seat belt when he became entangled in the seat belt shoulder strap. A two-year-old boy, believed to be the victim's brother, was in a booster seat in the right rear of the vehicle. MSP is continuing their investigation.

PG Fire & EMS wanted us to pass this along to remind all of us as to the importance of having your residents and citizens fully aware of their states law as well as exactly how the public can get trained on the use of car seats for kids. According to Teresa Ann Crisman of Prince Georges County Fire-EMS, there is a great possibility that this incident could have been avoided if the child was properly fitted in an approved restraint system. More good info here: http://www.usa.safekids.org